Gas Conversion Project Completed in China

Posted on August 26, 2005

Alstom reported that in May 2005, the Meishi combined-cycle power plant, Shenzhen, China returned to commercial operation after the completion of a fuel conversion project. Before the conversion the Alstom GT13E2 gas turbines had been burning diesel oil. This conversion creates the first Chinese power plant to use LNG as primary fuel, according to Alstom. The plant is producing a power output of around 200 MW at ambient temperature 28¢ªC and is operated as a peaking unit for about 16 hours per day.

In addition to the conversion project itself, a major logistical challenge was the reliable supply of fuel to the plant. Currently there is no local LNG distribution point and consequently the fuel is trucked 4300 km from Xinjiang. This arrangement is scheduled to change with the completion of a natural gas pipeline and terminal to provide the fuel for plants in the area in mid-2006.

The project was part of an improvement plan implemented by the owners to return Meishi to sustained profitability. There are also environmental benefits from using LNG in the way of reduced NOx emissions with no sulfides or other particulate matter after combustion.